Pressing device



July 5, 1960 Filed Dec. 17, 1958 E. WEIHMAYR PRESSING DEVICE 3Sheets-Sheet 1 E. WEIHMAYR PRESSING DEVICE July 5, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Dec. 17, 1958 y 1960 E. WEIHMAYR 2,943,772

' PRESSING DEVICE I Fil ed Dec. 17, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 j iw tatesPatent 2,943,77; PRESSING DEVICE Engelbert Weihm'ayr,Angsburg-Oberhausen, Germany, assignor to 'Kleindienst '& Co.Maschinenfabrik und Eisengieberei, Argonstrabe, Bavaria, Germany Thepresent invention concerns a pressing device com.- posed ofheatablepressing plates for articles of wearing apparel, .e.-g. outer clothingand underwear and the like of any shape or kind, articles tobe pressed.

. According to the present invention a supportor intermediate layeradapted to be inserted between the press plates for placing thereon orslipping over the articles to be pressed, is composed of an inflatableenvelope of expandible elastic materialv and means are provided whichallow either the inflating pressure to be produced or existing in theenvelope and/or the relative approach towards one another of thepressing'plate's to be so adjusted ,or to "be kept in such limits, thaton the one hand the envelop as also the articles to be pressed are notoverstressed and that on' the other hand the desired smoothing effect isobtained. I

In order to allow the articles which are to be pressed to be completelyfilled out by means of the inflatable envelope withoutcausinglocal'overstressing it is advisable to adapt theinflatableenvelope roughly to the given shape of the article, which mayfor instance be a shirt or pair of trousers. Moreover it is alsoexpedient to provide the envelope internally with shaping supportingmeans in such a manner that the article to be pressed may he slippedover the envelope in the non-inflated or only slightly inflated state ofthe envelope. To permit the envelope to be retained in a positionrelative to the pressing plates it is provided internally with a furthersupporting device, e.g. a stand, which may be of tubular design and inthis way simultaneously serve to supply the inflating medium. It is thusan advantage for the supporting deviceand hence inflatable envelope asalso the pressing plates to be arranged so as to be displaceable in thevertical direction and towards one another, in such a manner that theslip ping over and removal of the article may be effected out side ofthe pressing plates.

In order to utilize fully the capacity of the heatable pressing platesand to eliminate waiting periods for the operator, at least two,supporting devices the envelopes of which may be coupled together arepreferably adapted alternately to .be swung in or slid in the fixedcommon pressing device. 7

Especially in the vertical arrangement of the envelope and the pressingplates it is of advantage for the opposite guiding thereof to provide apair of two-armed levers, at one end of which the pressing plates aremounted and on the other ends thereofengage the actuating means, e.g.

pneumatically or steam actuated pistons connected via a.

rod mechanism. 1 v

It may be expedient for means to limit the stroke to be allowed to actupon the driving rod mechanism in order to protect the articles tobetpressed and the envelope. For

relieving the actuating medium during the pressing operation it may alsobe advisable to provide means for locking the lever in the operationalposition of the pressing plates and allow them to act on the pair oflevers.

Pressing machines are known in which the article of wearing apparel isplaced on a fixed supporting table or slipped over a fixed support andsubsequently pressed by means of heatable pressing plates. The pressingplates are pressed with a certain force against the article disposed onthe support. 4

These kinds of pressing machine which are generally equipped for dealingwith one kind of garment or article of clothing have variousdisadvantages. Should it berequired for the article to be pressedcompletely in one single operation, then the press requires adjustablesupports, which must be adapted to the varying shape and size of theindividual article concerned (e.g. shirts or underpants or overalls).This possibility of varying the shape necessitates costly mechanicalmembers liable to breakdowns and which in operation of the. pressingmachine have to be adjusted to each individual article. If howevernonadjustable supports are provided then several operations are requiredfor each article. Moreover the rigid design in the pressing direction ofthe support as also of the heatable pressing plates, owing to thevarying thickness of the article to be pressed (e.g. due to fittedpockets), is not conducive to uniformly good pressing spread over theentire surface of the article. Moreover the applied pressure is greaterand hence the quality of the resultant pressing is better atthe pointshaving a greater thickness of material than at points having a smallerthickness of material. Furthermore, when treating garments on known.-pressing machines there occurs the disturbing feature that thick buttonsdue to the excessive pressure occurring therein are firmly impressedinto the surrounding material.

To-elucidatethis state of the art Figs. land 2 show one of the-knownpressing machines for shirts, in elevation and in section. I The shirt 1is slipped over a support table which is composed of plates 2 and 3slightly curved and disposed parallel toone another and filling out thechest and rear, as alsoof two stretching tongues 4 and 5 adapted to bemoved out laterally between these plates 2 and 3, which after the shirthas been fitted over are spread to such an extent that the shirt istightly stretched over the supporting parts 2 to 5. The pressingoperation is eflected by the fact that after stretching the shirt fromthe above and from-below heated pressing plates, 6 and 7 are eachpressed against the chest and back plates 2 and 3 respectively as alsothe stretching tongues 4 and 5 of the supis thus smoothed out. Thesleeves 8 and the collar area 9 of the shirt 1 are not affected, theserequiring separate treatment.

In addition to these garment presses I inflating dummies, are knownwhich are designated as steaming,

drying and-occasionally as pressing dummies. These are composed of a bagslipped over a stand and suspended thereon', the bag being inflated andby this to impart its conventional shape to the article of wearingapparel or of clothing to agreater orlesser extent. The procedure inmost cases is for the inflatable dummy bag and the article first to betraversed by steam, thus causing the. article tobecome pliable, so thatit is readily brought into shape by means ofthe finishing brush.whereupon the steam is replaced by air or hot air which carries away themoisture (water andpossibly solvent residues)- in the form of vapouruntil the garment is dry. This method of treatment also called pressing,and in reality only causes the material to be smoothed, stretched anddried; although it allows a good general degree of shaping it does not.allow any actual pressing efiect to be obtained. The latter, besidesaffecting the general smoothing of the material also efiects inparticular the surface condition and can occur only when the material ofthe article is Y 3 pressed by means of a support against a fixedpressing plate having the corresponding temperature.

The shaping and drying operation on such inflating dummies however hasfurther drawbacks. Large quantities'of hot air are consumed, whichrequires, con- .siderable, energy in operation and connected with adisturbing noise and for which there is required -a. costly andgowerfiul compressor installation withair heater.

;-1Ijt has also beenproposcd to use an inflatable dummy .which isimpermeable to air andsteam, which with each garment to be treated needbe inflated only once and in which the steam'is directed against thegarment from theoutside. This known arrangement has hitherto beenenzrployed.only for steaming and drying and does not al- -low apressing; elfect to be obtained either. Moreover it ;has. extremely longdrying periods as. the garment is sealed off'onv the inside by theinflating bag.

Inaccordance with the invention these deficiencies of fixed resting orsupporting members of ironing presses are removed by the fact that anairtight bladder known n connectionwith steaming and drying dummies isused "as support or intermediate layer when prmsing by means of heatingplates.

The invention will be described further in the draw- .ings, by way ofexample, in which:

Figs. 1 and. 2 show an elevation and sectional view of a known type ofshirt smoothing press;

Fig. 3 is a view of the pressing device for shirts with thefrontpressing plate removed;

Fig. 4 is a cross section through the arrangement corresponding to' Fig.3 taken on: the line IV--IV of Fig. 3;

' Fig. 5 is a view of an. arrangement according to Figs.

3. and- 4 having two inflating bags adapted to be alternatively moved,out laterally 'from the pressing plates on to a common movement device;a

;, Figs. 6- and 7 are diagrammatic plan views of pressing devices havinga pmsing plate pair and several dummy envelopes;

Figs. 8 and 9 show an elevation and cross section of an alternativeembodiment of the arrangement corre sponding to Figs. 3 and 4 having acushion-like insert for obtaining in places a particularly good qualityof a pressing;

Fig. 10 is a cross section through the movement mechanism for the.adjustable stops corresponding to Fig. 9; 1nd

- Figs. ll and 12 are an elevation and cross section of an alternativeembodiment for the arrangement corresponding to Figs. 3 and 4 forpressing shirt sleeves.

Fig. 3v shows a simplified view of a pressing device for shirts, inwhich the front pressing plate is removed. The -.envelope 10 has theapproximate shape of a shirt and is. provided internally with a tube 11acting as stand at the upper end thereof being arranged a member 12adapted to support the sleeve portion 22 of the envelope 10 This member12, in order to facilitate the shirt 1 being slipped. thereover, may bearranged so as to be fpivotal in ahinge like manner along the stand 11or along .the lines 12'. Behind the envelope 10 there is arranged therear heatable pressing plate 13, the shape of which conforms to that ofthe article concerned, in the example shown, a shirt. The broken linesindicated the position of the shirt 1 on the dummy bag 10.

The compressed air required for inflating the envelope 1.0518-suppliedthrough the tube. 11 acting as a stand.

The tube ll-enters the envelope-10 at, the lower end and is connected:thereto in'an airtight manner at the point versible valve 17, which isincorporated in the communicating pipe 18, 18 leading to the tube 11,and connects the pipe section 18 either to the pressure reduction valveinflating the envelope.

16 or connects it with the atmosphere 19, whereby it cuts off the pipesection 18'.

The lowermost section 20 of the tube 11 serves as a holder for theenvelope stand, wherein the overall arrangement may either be verticallyor horizontally d-isposed.

Fig. 4 is a cross section through an arrangement corresponding to Fig. 3and taken on the line IV-IV with the stand 11 in a vertical position.The envelope 10 and the arm portions 22 thereof'are clamped between therear pressing plate- 13 and the front pressing plate 21.

The pressing plates 13 and 21 are connected at the outer surface 23 totwo-armed levers 24, by means of which the pressing plates 13 and 21 maybe displaced from the working position shown to a second positionreleasing the articles to be pressed and the envelope 10, in which thepressing plates are at a substantially greater spaced relationship toone another. For actuating the pivotal movement of the levers 24 abouttheir pivots 25 causing the plate movement there is provided a cylinder26 having two oppositely acting pneumatically operated pistons 27, 27',which are connected to the lever ends 24 via push rods 28. Thecompressed air supply pipe 29 may also be connected to the compressedair cylinder 15 used for inflating the envelope 10. Depending upon theposition of the valve 30. the pipe 31 leading into the centre ofthecylinder is connected either to the supply pipe 21 or to the atmosphere33, in such a way that in, case the pipe 32. connected to the end facesof the cylinder at any one time is connected oppositely. If the pressingplates are steam heated it would be possible for the lever 24 to beactuated similarly by means of steam. it would also be possible to usean electric or any other drive.

To cause the actuating medium to be relieved of the operational pressureoccurring in the operational position there are provided controllablestops 34, by means of which the levers 24 on reaching their operationalposition as shown, can be locked in the latter (compare description toFig. 10).

Moreover stops for limiting the stroke of the pressing plates in theoperational position are provided for saving the articles to be pressedand the envelope. These stops are developed as adjustablev stop screws35 and to prevent an additional stress to the levers 24 and bars 28 aredisposed directly on the cylinder 26, where they act directly on thevpistons 27,27.

The action of these. stops '35 prevents the pressing plates I3, 21 intheir operational. position from going below a certain (adjustable)minimum clearance. Such an arrangement is convenient when, as. in thepresent example,

siderably in size, itmay then be advisable to provide a furthersafeguard by incorporating an excess pressure valve (36 in Fig. 3) inthe supply pipe 18' leading to the envelope 10.

It. is also possible, however, to proceed in such a Way especially whenpressing underwear that the articles to be pressed are fitted over anonly slightly inflated envelope and the latter together with thearticles for pressing in this state placed between the pressing plateswhich have already assumed their operational position and then fully Inthis case the whole movement mechanism for the pressing plates may beomitted. Moreover the provision of an excess pressure valve 36 which maybe adjustable renders unnecessary n separate pressure reduction valve 16and a whistle 37 may be provided idling stroke of the pressing plates,which occurs in pressing machines operating with one envelope only,during the time the articles to be pressed are fitted over and removedfrom the single envelope, there are provided two .enevelopes ,10andadapted to be placed alternately between the pressing plates. Tosimplify the movement operation, the'two envelopes are mounted ona'common carriage 38. Thus it is possible to operate with displace ablepressing plates as also with fixedly mounted pressing plates andinflating the envelope between the latter.

Fig. 6 shows diagrammatically a plan view of an alternative embodimentto the arrangement corresponding to Fig. 5 having a similar movementdiagram. Herein, for example, there are provided five mobile envelopesthat to 10e, which follow a predetermined course 39. The individualcarriages of the envelopes may thus be interconnected so that allenvelopes advance simultaneously from station to station. At the stationA an article of clothing or garment is fitted over the envelope 10a. Atthe position B the envelope 10b together with the article is in a steamchamber 40. At the position C the articles of the envelope 100 arepressed between pressing plates 13 to 21 common to all envelopes 10a to10s. At the station D, the articles of the envelope 10% are allowed tosteam off and cool down and at the station E the articles are removedfrom the envelope 10e.

Fig. 7 shows diagrammatically a plan view of an alternative embodimentto the arrangement corresponding to Figs. 5 and 6. Herein the commonpressing plates 13, 21 and the envelope receiving the articles to bepressed are horizontally disposed, the movement operation of theenvelopes 10 and 10g being efiected by means of a turntable-like rotarydevice 41.

It is thus possible for the arrangement to be made based on thearrangement shown in Fig. 5, that as shown, only two envelopes 10 and10g are each disposed on one arm '41 of the rotary device 41 and thatthe envelopes together with the articles to be pressed are alternatelyconveyed between the pressing plates 13, 2.1. It is however alsopossible based on the arrangement corresponding to Fig. 6 for more arms41 (shown in broken lines) to be fitted with evelopes. An essentialfeature is however that the pressing plates are practically in constantoperation.

Figs. 8 and 9 show an alternative embodiment to the arrangementcorresponding to Figs. 3 and 4. In this case the interior of theenvelope 10 is fitted in the region of the chest section of the shirt 1to be pressed with a solid or highly resilient cushion-like support 42,the thickness of which is such that the regions of the article to bepressed fitting against the latter are pressed to a particularly highdegree and hence are smoothed in a particularly efiective manner. It isalso possible for such supports to be arranged in the region of thecollar and the cuffs or the like.

The movement device shown in Fig. 9 for the twoarmed levers 24 providesfor onlyone piston 27, which acts on the lever ends 24 via a rodmechanism 27", 43, 43, 43". Adjustable stop screws 35 disposed on thecylinder covers can also be used for limiting the stroke. It is howeveralso possible for fixed or adjustable stops 44 arranged in the frame ofthe device to be used, which act directly on the levers, 24. Forrelieving the rod mechanism 43 in the operational position of the levers24 there are provided as in the arrangement corresponding to Fig. 4displaceable and lockable stops 34.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic section through the movement device for thestops 34 taken on the line XX in Fig. 9. The two stop pins 34 aremounted between the two yokes of the frame of the device. The pins holdthe two levers 2.4 in a spread position. The ends of the stop pins 34projecting through the upper stirrup 45 are each connected with a piston46, which slide in cylinders, 47 and which when being actuated lift thestop pins to such an extent that they release the levers 24.

Figs. 11 and 12 also show an alternative embodiment of the arrangementcorresponding to Figs. 3 and 4 or 8 and 9 respectively which serves topress shint sleeves 48. Only one cylinder 26 with piston 27, is providedin this case as the movement device for the pressing plates 13', 21' thecylinder being displaceable-and adapted to be connected directly to oneof the levers 24.

I claim: V V v a 1. In a garment press, two relatively displaceablepressing plates adapted to be heated, an inflatable elastic envelope ofthin, deformable air-tight material movable between said plates andadapted to have an article of wearing apparel fitted thereover,supporting means for said envelope, means for progressively inflatingsaid envelope, and means for controllably displacing at least one ofsaid pressing plates so as to exert an adequate force on the articlewhen disposed between said plates without overstressing the inflatableenvelope.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said supporting means is ahollow stand through which an inflating fluid may be supplied to theenvelope.

3. In a garment press, two relatively displaceable pressing platesadapted to be heated, an inflatable elastic envelope of thin-walleddeformable air-tight material adapted to conform to an article ofwearing apparel fitted thereover, means disposed within the envelope forproviding additional support to certain portions of the article duringpressing, means for inflating said envelope, and means for controllablydisplacing at least one of said pressing plates to form a predeterminedspace between said plates so as to exert an adequate force on thearticle when disposed between said plates without overstressing theinflatable envelope.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein said additional supportmeans consist of at least one cushion-like supporting body having athickness corresponding substantially to predetermined space between thepressing plates.

5. In a garment press, two relatively displaceable vertically extendingpressing plates adapted to be heated, an inflatable elastic envelope ofthin walled deformable air-tight material adapted to conform to anarticle of wearing apparel fitted thereover, means for supporting saidenvelope so that the article may be fitted thereon prior to completeinflation, means for displacing said supporting means relative to bothsaid pressing plates, means for inflating said envelope, and means forcontrollably displacing at least one of said pressing plates so as toexert an adequate force on the article when disposed between said plateswithout overstressing the inflatable envelope.

6. A structure as defined in claim 5, including at least a pair ofsupporting means movably secured to said press and envelope adaptedalternately to be introduced between the pressing plates.

7. A garment press comprising in combination, two relativelydisplaceable pressing plates adapted to be heated, means for effectingdisplacement of said pressing plates, an-infiatable elastic envelope ofthin-Walled deformable air-tight material adapted to have an article ofWearing apparel fitted thereover, means for inflating said envelope, andmeans for controllably displacing at least one of said pressing platesso as to exert an adequate pressing force on the article when disposedbetween said plates without overstressing the inflatable envelope, saiddisplacement means comprising piston and cylinder means, a pair oftwo-armed levers operatively connected to said pressing plates, and tosaid piston and cylinder means for swinging said levers, and means forlocking said levers in their operative position.

8. The process of pressing garments comprising positioning a garmentover a partially inflated thin-walled deformable supporting envelope ofair-tight material, adapted to conform to the shape of a garment,enclosing the envelope bearing the garment between opposed press platesurfaces, driving out a part of the air from the envelope and inflatingthe envelope to its full- Capacity to thereby adapt it to a desiredshape.

References Cited in the file of this patent 8 Berger -a---- July 17,1951 Hitz i Ian. 4, 1955 Strike 'May I, 1956 Johnson et a1 Aug. 7, 1-956Davis -2 Sept.24, 1957 Maxwell et a1. May 13, 1958

